Source good quality raw data so you can build a solid, well rounded platform of information. An infographic is only as good as the data you put in so make sure you build from a sound foundation. Ask yourself how reputable the sources are. Is the data all totally relevant? is there any obvious information missing? What questions are your readers likely to ask and are they answered by the data at hand?

Rank it!

Now you have a high quality, well rounded set of data, it pays to rank it in order of importance to your piece. Decide which facts are the most compelling and should be given top billing. You may find that there is too much information to use – this is a great way of making sure the most important data gets prioritised.

Focus on the story

Keep a strong focus on the story in the data. Make sure you understand the key points that you are trying to illustrate and reference the data back to them throughout the process.

Keep the message clear

Use the ‘at a glance’ test to check that the key messages in your story are clear. You should be able to ‘get it’ with just a glance at the page. If that isn’t happening, use the opportunity to rework and clarify making sure the data is telling your story in the most obvious terms. If you’ve been looking at the data so long that you are not sure, get someone else to have a glance and see if it makes sense to them.

Repetition

Clarity is great, but be careful to avoid repetition. Repeating the same thing doesn’t reinforce your point but rather detracts from the impact of your story and switches people off. You don’t want to leave your readers feeling like you are wasting their time.

Check your work

Always check for accuracy and recency before signing it off. In fast moving news, what may have been accurate and up to date data when you started can quickly change. Double check your facts before going to press.